Ministry of Ayush

Ministry of AYUSH is an Indian government agency responsible for developing education, research, and propagation of indigenous alternative medicine systems, including Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy. Established on 9th November 2014, the Ministry emphasizes sustainable health solutions and promotes the holistic well-being of individuals. It was formerly known as the Department of Indian System of Medicine and Homeopathy (ISM&H) before being rebranded to reflect the inclusion of all aspects of traditional and alternative medicine practices.

History

The Ministry of AYUSH was formed to centralize the attention towards the development and propagation of traditional forms of medicine which have been a part of Indian culture and society. The establishment of the Ministry was a significant step by the Government of India to recognize and promote the importance of traditional healthcare systems. It aims to support the integration of AYUSH systems into the general health services of India.

Objectives

The primary objectives of the Ministry of AYUSH include:

• Promotion of research and development in the field of traditional medicine.
• Formulation of policies for the growth and propagation of the AYUSH systems.
• Improvement of educational standards in the AYUSH colleges across the country.
• Providing focused attention to the development of AYUSH medical systems and their integration into the healthcare delivery mechanism.
• Encouragement of the cultivation of medicinal plants used in these systems of medicine.

Functions

The Ministry of AYUSH performs several critical functions to achieve its objectives:

• Regulation of education and practice in the AYUSH systems through statutory bodies.
• Support and funding for research in various aspects of AYUSH through its research councils.
• Implementation of national health programs in the field of traditional medicine.
• International collaboration for the global promotion of AYUSH.
• Promotion of the cultivation of medicinal plants necessary for the sustainability of AYUSH medicines.

Initiatives

The Ministry has launched various initiatives to promote AYUSH practices:

• International Day of Yoga: The Ministry played a pivotal role in the United Nations declaration of June 21 as the International Day of Yoga, promoting global awareness of the benefits of Yoga.
• National AYUSH Mission: Aimed at promoting AYUSH medical systems through cost-effective services, strengthening the educational systems, facilitating the enforcement of quality control of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Homoeopathy (ASU&H) drugs and sustainable availability of ASU&H raw-materials.
• AYUSH Scholarship Schemes: Offering scholarships to international students for pursuing AYUSH courses in India.

Challenges

Despite its significant contributions, the Ministry faces challenges such as the integration of AYUSH with mainstream healthcare, standardization and quality control of AYUSH drugs, and scientific validation of traditional practices.

See Also

• Healthcare in India
• Traditional Medicine
• Medicinal Plants